Archive for the ‘canst thou read this The Scriptures without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness’ Category

Brethren! It’s a great New Year, and 2011 seems filled with promise beyond even that of which I felt. I admit my slackened initial opinion of this year came because of my failure to live up to some of the New Years Resolutions I made. Finally, I said to myself, that the execution of it was a challenge, and in the reading of my scriptures- and the increase of daily reading- I have found that of which inspired the title to this blog.

The Scriptures are the means of us drawing closer to the Lord, and our Heavenly Father. Inside the words given us by the Lord, especially in the Book Of Mormon, is the fullness of the Gospel. The blessed knowledge that one can come to a merciful God, whom installed a plan of Salvation that through the work, order and authority of His church and His annointed- using the Priesthood, we can reach Heaven; The Lord is able to save us all.

The Gospel is so ideal to our spiritual progression, that if we treated it with the anxiety we find ourselves directing to Monday Night Football (Or any program for that matter), we might actually be continually filled, and not with any portion short of our need, causing that thirst for things of a Spiritual Nature that we seem to know we need, yet have a hard time in continually directing ourselves to, “in all diligence.” . If we could drive ourselves to the scriptures, like our bodies do to food when we are hungry, we would well fit into that category of which Elder Holland spoke of when he said, quoting the Savior,

“And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived… and in the last days neither your heart, nor your faith, will fail you.” (Emphasis added)

We know also very well the damaging side effects of Spiritual starvation, and it is a reprehensible list. Oft times, the lack of blessings that we suffer, whether we have come to the knowledge of it or not, is due to our lack of diligence. Indeed, as I previously mentioned, in upping my spiritual ante with goals and resolutions and then NOT acting on them, am I not inviting Satan to “call” my bluff? Like a game of poker, Satan has chips of a corruptible nature, and can seem to force the “all in” much more than any Texas Hold Em player would care to think of.

So, we need to stave the onset of those opprobrious side effects of inaction, and contentment with the one source of information and teaching that is always right, and never wrong… the scriptures.

May I recall to your mind the account of the people of Zarahemla. The people of King Mosiah, The Nephites, stumbled upon the great city Zarahemla and found a good people, who were descendants of one of the sons of Zedekiah. After finding them, the record states, “Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon.” (Omni 1:15)

This discovery was a great one, worthwhile to both the Nephites, and the then called people of Zarahemla. But it was those people that taught us a lesson about the rich significance of a scriptural and genealogical record for continual reflection. As this states, we can assume that these were led from Jerusalem on or around the time Lehi was being led out. But Lehi had something they did not, the plates of brass. The effect of that difference mislead the people of Zarahemla.The people of Zarahemla saw that “…their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them.” (Omni 1:17)

This time is somewhere between 279 and 130 B.C., leaving the possibility of many hundred years of watered down stories and no record keeping.

The solution was absolute, and could go one of two ways. Fortunate for them, and the people of Mosiah, they felt that, “…it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his language….after they were taught… Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers; and they are written, but not in these plates.”(Omni 1:18)

How neat this must have been for Mosiah and his people. Others were brought into the fold, another small portion of history learned, and a record kept of the end result in not having, and not using (should they of had it) the scriptures.

So in my personal studies, I came across that scripture in the Doctrine & Covenants, which gave part to the title of this blog, and it says this:

“Behold, canst thou read this [The Scriptures] without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness?”

If we are truly seeking the Savior, we can give a resolute answer to His question. We can’t help but jump for joy, and feel the Spirit testify to us of the truthfulness of the Gospel when we search, ponder and pray. I leave that message with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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